Disappointed from the Corolla this weekend - my rant
I went up north this weekend with my Corolla S, to Mont Tremblant, and my car disappointed me.
We were 4 people in the car, no one was over 200pounds, and we had 2 duffle bags of clothes in the trunk, on the highway, the car reacted with a delay when I would turn the wheel, making it hard to keep steady! This was both ways, on the 15, from Montreal.
At the start of the trip, the windshield washer fluid froze on me, I put -40 type, was never an issue before, got it from Ultramar. It was frozen solid, and I started the trip from my garage! I noticed the bottle in the car is not in the engine bay, but on the outside of the frame, stupid design, the wind was hitting it on the highway, going 110km/h + -20degree + cold wind = really cold, not the greatest designs.
The top half of my windshield kept fogging up, no other window was fogging up, just that one, i had the heater on max and fan on max, window only, never helped.
The ABS was kicking in all the time. I was on roads that had no ice, my friends Dodge Caravan’s ABS didn’t kick in. For some reason the pedal was not consistent. Sometimes it was soft, and sometimes it would bite suddenly. I slid into a snow bank and cracked my front bumper, i was going 10km, pressed the break, it was soft, and then the ABS kicked in and the car didn't feel like it was slowing down anymore...
What scared me the most was the clutch pedal was stiff when I started it, after leaving it over night in Tremblant. After letting the car idle for 10 minutes, it was somewhat better, but then on the highway it became hard again. I have never had strange clutch pedal problems on any of my other cars.
Oh, I almost forgot, when I would turn my wheels and go, there was a loud cracking sound, as if my CV joints were frozen!
I've had the car since June, and I use it to go to work all the time. It's made the loud noise once before, but I figured, -20 degrees, I’d crack too if I’m outside for 8 hours. But I’m in Quebec; I can't have a car that doesn't work properly in winter! I normally park my car in a garage, which is why I haven't experienced any of this before. We have had little quirks all the time, the ESP, a strange rattle from the front left, but we bore with it, this weekend, my car didn't like the trip and it showed me. I was only glad that it started, with a little trouble and moans, but it started.
Now i'm looking switching to a VW Jetta TDI - with heated seats.
Last edited by Cadman1981; 01-26-2009 at 10:23 AM.
I went up north this weekend with my Corolla S, to Mont Tremblant, and my car disappointmed me.
We were 4 people in the car, no one was over 200points, and we had 2 duffle bags of clothes, on the highway, the car reacted with a delay, making it hard to keep steady! This was both ways, on the 15, from Montreal.
At the start of the trip, the windsheild washer fuild froze on me, i noticed the bottle in the car is not in the engine bay, but on the outside of the frame, stupid design, how can i get to it? remove the wheel well?!
The top half of my windsheild kept fogging up, no other window was fogging up, just that one, i had the heater on max and fan on max, window only, never helpped.
The ABS was kicking in all the time. I was on roads that had no ice! And for some reason the pedel was not consistant. Sometimes i was soft, sometimes it would bit suddenly. I slid into a snow bank and cracked my front bumper, i was going 10km, pressed the break, it was soft, and then the ABS kicked in and the car didn't feel like it was slowing down anymore...
What scared me the most was the clutch pedal was frozen after leaving it over night in Tremblant. Even after letting the car idle for 10 minutes. I have never had strange clutch problems on any of my other cars.
Oh, i almost forgot, when i would turn my wheels and go, there was a loud cracking sound, as if my CV joints for frozen!
I've had the car since June, and i use it to go to work all the time. It's made the loud noise once before, but i figured, -20 degrees, i'd crack too if i'm outside for 8 hours. But i'm in Quebec, i can't have a car that doesn't work properly in winter! I normally park my car in a garage, which is why i haven't experienced any of this before. We have had little quirks all the time, the ESP, a strange rattle from the front left, but we bared with it, this weekend, my car didn't like the trip and it showed me. I was only glad that it started, with a little trouble and moans, but it started.
Now i'm looking switching to a VW Jetta TDI - with heated seats.
In all fairness I was ready to purchase the '09 VW Jetta TDI, but the Corolla S worked within my budget. Jetta was about $100 a month more than the Corolla. If I could afford it, I would have to got the Jetta.
Anyways, it sounds like you need to take your car in ASAP!
__________________
2009 Magnetic Grey Toyota Corolla S
Only thing I can say is the clutch is fine. When it gets below zero F, (which is seldom around here) the hydraulic fluid gets cold and thick on the highway, so the clutch will be stiff. Never heard any complaints about ABS other than yours. Other problems - move somewhere warmer.
So diesel fuel gelling is never an issue there, especially at those temperatures?
ABS kicking in all the time on roads that had no ice? On winter tires?
I have never had pure -40C windshield fluid freeze on me, even driving at -40C.
Compare a Corolla S to a comparable Jetta TDI which is $8k more, diesel costs 10c more/litre or more at times, for a couple more miles/gallon. Unless the VW quality is better than it was from 2000-2006, dealing with choked EGR valves, poor quality MAFS are no picnic. At least the VW TDI has a timing chain now...I guess people have different opinions..
__________________ '09 Corolla CE Enhanced Auto
TRD Springs/Sway/Xrs FSB by Yamaha
Lifetime : 6.121L/100km(38.714mpgUS)
Maximum: 5.082L/100km(46.287mpgUS)
(manually calculated) (original unflashed factory ECM code)
Yawn, you can switch cars all you like, but your "economical" choice becomes moot as you lose on resale values and such.
My father and I both bought work cars on the same day. I chose a Corolla xle and he went with the Jetta 2.5. I am at 21,000 miles and he is at 31,000
Here is the breakdown:
Warranty Work:
Corolla: Nothing
Jetta: Bad ball joint
Maintenance (outside of oil changes)
Corolla: $35
Jetta: $350
MPG
Corolla: 37 MPG
Jetta: 29 MPG
We have switched cars for the week before. While we both agree that the Jetta has more style and personality, The Corolla is much more economical and cheaper to maintain.
But i'm not talking about the 2.5l, i'm looking at the 6-speed 2.0l Diesel. Yes, i agree the Corolla is more economical, and is cheaper, but we can't compare the 2 cars, they're not in the same category.
Europeans will always be more expensive to maintain, i had a 1992 Jetta before this car. It was a rust bucket, but i loved driving it.
Just to be clear, we're all entitled to our oppinions.
Last edited by Cadman1981; 01-26-2009 at 08:26 PM.
But i'm not talking about the 2.5l, i'm looking at the 6-speed 2.0l Diesel. Yes, i agree the Corolla is more economical, and is cheaper, but we can't compare the 2 cars, they're not in the same category.
Europeans will always be more expensive to maintain, i had a 1992 Jetta before this car. It was a rust bucket, but i loved driving it.
Just to be clear, we're all entitled to our oppinions.
Technically you can compare anything that gets you from A to B.
I was just giving my entitled opinion, which I found to be fair compared to others posted on the subject.But I understand what your saying. I was referring more to the posters who seem to buy an Econobox, and then trade it every few years for a different shade of gray.
Your concerns are valid though. The design for the washer fluid is terrible. The rest I would certainly have looked at by a reputable dealer.
I went up north this weekend with my Corolla S, to Mont Tremblant, and my car disappointed me.
We were 4 people in the car, no one was over 200pounds, and we had 2 duffle bags of clothes in the trunk, on the highway, the car reacted with a delay when I would turn the wheel, making it hard to keep steady!
And with this 800lb load, what was/is the tire pressure in the rear tires? Only thing I can think of.
The AutoGuide.com network consists of the largest network of enthusiast-owned enthusiast-operated automotive communities.
AutoGuide.com provides the latest car reviews, auto show coverage, new car prices, and automotive news. The AutoGuide network operates more than 100 automotive forums where our users consult peers for shopping information and advice, and share opinions as a community.
ToyotaNation.com is an independent Toyota/Lexus enthusiast website. ToyotaNation.com is not sponsored by or in any way affiliated with Toyota Motor Sales, USA, Inc. The Toyota, Lexus and Scion names and logos are trademarks owned by Toyota Motor Sales, USA, Inc.
Linear Mode
